Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1887-09-16
PENNY CAFES. 2
A Cheap and Harmless Kind of
Amusement.
Fat and Lean Women and "Freaks OF
Nature" as Seen In London-Some-
thing About the Risks of the
Business.

strolling aimlessly along one of the
| principal market thoroughfares in the
neighborhood of Hoxton, when my at.
tcntion was drawn to a crowd of people
outside shop, the window Of which,
instead Of being filed, as usual, with
goods suited to the requirements Of the
locality. was occupied by a large can
vas, painted all over in glaring colors
with marvellous figures Of performing
dogs, fat women, skeletons, giants, red
Indians and number Of odd-looking
animals, 70 classify which under their
correct genus would have puzzled the
most eminent living naturalist. In
front Of the shop piano-organ. evil
IDENTIFY ordered 10 stop there for the oc-
casion, poured forth such cheering lays
rs "Wait till the Clouds Roll By
"Jcanie.' and Mother, I've Come
Home to Die" varied by lively Jig or
breakdown, which was the signal for a
number Of children in the roadway to
perform singular gymnastic feats, which
passed muster for dancing. A fat man
with red face and very hoarse voice
stood guard at the entrance to the shop
the inside Of which was concealed
from the eager gaze Of those without
by dirty curtain Of green baize
stretched across the doorway--and en-
deavorcd to induce the crowd to pay
their pennies and "walk in." His har-
angue, frequently repeated, was some
thing like this: "Just a-goin' to begin,
Signor Barberino's great travelling show
admission one penny-where can be
seen the wonderful fat woman Of Cali
fornia, and that hextrahordinary freak
o nature, the aimlcss child, which can
write with its feet, and never knows tbs
loss ofits harms, eos it never had none,
and also cos mater ms pcrwided ii with
legs what does twice as we'll
Now, then. thcre--stand aside. and let
the lady pass.') (rhis to a group of
small boys who had got AS near to the
doorway Ms possiblc.) '.Thank you,
mnrm, Just a-goin' to begin, as ex-
hibited before all the crowned eads of
Europe and all the ryal family, and
specially engaged to appear at the
iiimpcrial thcater Of Peking, in Chimney.
mo dogs admitted. sir; and children
must be paid for. Signor Barberino's, ;"
atc,
The impression left on most Of the
crowd seemed to be that IL they missed
that show, II would be matter of re-
greet 10 them for the rest of their nat
nral life, for they pressed eagerly for
ward and paid their pennies. In about
seven minutes the shop was crammed
with a miscellaneous crowd of men,
women--with some of their purchases
for the Sunday dinner bullying out of
baskets too small to contain them and
boys and girls of that intermediate age
between childhood and youth; little
children IN tho charge of bigger chill
lren; and one or two of u better class
II young men, who seemed to have
dropped in merely for the fun Of the
thing,
| ! entered with q number of others,
md obtained II place MS near as could
70 another hanging of green baize at
The further end of the shop, for im-
| lgined that behind this must be con-
called some Of the wonders so graphic
4 llly painted on the canvas outside.
The place having become full, the green
4 baizc was drawn aside. and Young man
4 with very East-end look handed out n
short. fat. ugly, greasy-looking woman
/ Mt al in .s.l,
ing, ! should think, about eighteen
stone. She was dressed in SNOWY,
tawdry material, covered with clabo-
rate trimmings equally tawdry. aud
seemed pleased with the amount of at.
| tention she received. When the East
end young man had finished minute
account of her height. weight, age,
measurements, etc, members of the
crowd were requested to ''shake 'ands
with the fist LADY," and an intimation
was given that should any of the audi
ence, in the performance of this act OF
friendly greeting, pass any coin of the
! realm from their own into the lady's
palm, why--well, the fat lady would
aot be offended.
This part of the ceremony having
boon g't through. displaying on the
! part of the crowd an eager desire tc
ret near enough to have the honor OF
touching the lady's hand, she was
handed back again behind the baze
screen; and another woman. the an,
tipodes of the first one, made her APP.
pearancc. She was about five feet
eight inches in height. dressed
in dirty white muslin, covered all
ever with pale blue and pink bows.
The East-end young man stated she
was only four stone in weight, and
gave various other particulars. which
were all received by the audience with
rapt attention. The sight of this hide
GUS specimen of humanity was toe
much for me, and elbowed my way
to the door. thus missing the remain
ing attractions of the show. including
the ''hcxtrahordinary freak o nature
The armless child" whom, however,
was destined to see ut a. future date.
The following Monday afternoon |
was passing on business through the
same thoroughfare, when | observed
the red-faced man with the hoarse
voice standing. or rather lomging, out.
side the entrance to the show. IIavin.
quarter of an hour to spare, and feel
ing interested in the extraordinary be.
'ngs had seen on the previous Satur.
day, accostcd him, and asked him ii